Ruston, LA - The Women in the Woods program, developed by Louisiana Tech University professors Dr. Heidi Adams and Dr. Nan Nan, is designed to encourage young women to explore careers in forestry through mentorship, community outreach, and hands-on learning. The initiative, supported by the USDA NIFA Women and Minorities in STEM Fields Program, has recently received a $200,000 grant.
"Our goal is to create an inclusive, supportive environment for young women interested in forestry," said Adams. "This program offers real-world insights into the profession and inspires young women to consider forestry as a viable career path."
A recent survey of female college students with forestry-related leadership experience found that many women do not view forestry as a potential career because they rarely see women represented in the field. Some noted that young women often perceive foresters as chainsaw-wielding individuals who "chop down trees" or "fight forest fires." By providing experiential learning opportunities with female foresters and fostering professional relationships, the program aims to combat this stereotype and encourage more women to enter the field.
"Having strong, competent female role models is key to showing that it's okay to be a woman in science," said Adams. While the Women in the Woods program is aimed at Louisiana high school girls, the School of Agricultural Sciences and Forestry at Tech has a program called WOLFS — Women of Louisiana Forestry and Supporters — a student organization that fosters professional and social connections among those pursuing careers in forestry.
The Women in the Woods program focuses on three key areas. First, it develops forestry education resources by creating K-12 teaching materials for Louisiana educators, including activities, worksheets, and forestry experiments. Second, the program engages with female youth to spark interest in outdoor careers through targeted outreach. Finally, it hosts annual workshops, offering a free, three-day, two-night workshop for high school students to learn about forestry from professional female foresters.
“We aim to inspire the next generation of women in forestry by offering them mentorship and firsthand experience,” said Nan.
The next Women in the Woods workshop will take place May 2-4, 2025. The event is open to 40 high schoolers (grades 10-12) from Louisiana. Participants will gain hands-on experience, interact with female foresters, and learn more about the forestry profession.
